Oct 14 (DM) SL’s gross official reserve assets which provide a buffer against external shocks is inching towards US$ 6 billion, nearly three years after the usable balance fell under a mere US$ 50 million, triggering the economic crisis in early 2022. According to the data available through Sept 2024, SL has now rebuilt its gross official reserves to US$ 5,992 million from US$ 5,959 million in August. This includes however the roughly US$ 1.4 billion equivalent Yuan denominated currency swap more..

Oct 14 (FT) Rights Issue to raise Rs. 24 billion by top blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) has drawn a demand worth Rs. 27.4 billion. JKH’s 1 for 10 Rights Issue amounted to 150.26 million shares at Rs. 160 each with a total value of Rs. 24.04 billion. JKH also announced a sub-division of shares 1 into 10 post-Rights. When the issue closed last week, the level of subscription of the Rights Issue, including the applications received for additional shares, was for 171.4 million shares more..

Oct 14 (FT) Sri Lanka-Indonesia Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce undertook a successful business promotion mission to Indonesia, from 6 to 11 Oct 2024. The delegation consisted of 14 Sri Lankan business professionals from various sectors, including food and beverage, logistics, pharmaceuticals, apparel, travel, IT, and recreation industries. The tour covered several business forums, expos and visits to key stakeholders in trade and business sectors. more..

Oct 14 (DM) With the outlook for SL looking more hopeful than it had in the past few recent years, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA Sri Lanka) gears up to engage with professionals, including young business leaders, at its 45th National Conference held under the theme Marching Beyond Margins. The event is expected to play a critical role in helping the country seize new opportunities in its march towards a robust economy. In the wake of the worst ever economic crisis more..

Oct 14 (ST) No compelling reasons have emerged to cancel the grade five scholarship examination or hold back the results, following question leaks, Examinations Commissioner General Amith Jayasundara said. He said the report of the seven-member committee had been handed over to the Education Ministry Secretary for a decision by the Ministry. Describing the leak as a violation of the trust placed in officials rather than a flaw more..

Oct 14 (FT) Supreme Court on Friday concluded hearing submissions on three fundamental rights applications filed by former PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake and other citizens challenging the purported decision of the PUCSL to grant an electricity tariff hike in February 2023. The petitioners alleged that the PUCSL meeting at which the tariff hike was granted was not lawfully convened according to the procedure laid down by the law, and that the said decision is not legally valid. more..

Oct 14 (FT) The Sri Lanka Rupee last week entered the double-digit appreciation level against the US Dollar. During the year up to 11 October 2024, the SL Rupee appreciated against the US Dollar by 10.5%, the Central Bank said on Friday. The average rate of the US Dollar on Friday last week was Rs. 292.96, a new low and down from Rs. 294 last week, Rs. 323.41 a year ago, and Rs. 322.61 as of 5 January 2024. Last year, the Rupee saw an appreciation of 12.1% against the US Dollar. more..

Oct 14 (TM) Senior Consultant to the President on Economic Affairs and Finance, Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, emphasised that the Govt’s relief and subsidy programmes are designed to improve the livelihoods of the people, rather than to secure political gains. Prof. Fernando stated that the Govt is fully aware of the financial difficulties faced by the public. He highlighted the significance of these relief efforts, explaining that they are a vital component in boosting the national economy. more..

Oct 14 (DM) Due to adverse weather conditions, schools in several education zones, including those in the Western Province, will close till tomorrow. Additionally, the Provincial Ministry of Education has decided to close all schools in the Gampaha and Kelaniya education zones until tomorrow. Earlier, it was decided to close schools in the Kolonnawa and Kaduwela education zones. Provincial Ministry of Education also announced that all schools in the Wattala education division will remain closed. more..

Oct 14 (CT) The prevailing inclement weather conditions due to the atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of SL, wreaked havoc in 61 DS divisions across 12 districts, affecting 30,017 families comprising 118,125 members, resulting in 3 deaths and leaving two persons injured. The highest 16,707 affected families comprising 68,672 members, 10,914 families comprising 40,231 members and 1,122 familiess more..

Oct 14 (TM) Former MP Hirunika Premachandra resigned from her position as the National Organiser of the Samagi Wanitha Balawegaya (SWB), the women’s wing of SJB yesterday. Announcing her decision at a press conference, Premachandra made it clear that she will continue to support the SJB, affirming that she will never abandon her political convictions for personal gain. Premachandra explained that her decision to step down as National Organiser is a personal one, more..

Oct 14 (DM) The prevailing showery conditions are expected to continue further in 14 districts due to the atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meterology Dept said. They said heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western and Northern Provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. Accordingly, the showery conditions are expected to continue in districts such as more..

Oct 14 (TM) Police Dept stated that they plan to seek assistance from China and the INTERPOL as needed to address cases involving Chinese and other foreign nationals who were recently arrested while allegedly engaging in financial scams. A number of foreign nationals, including Ukrainians, Indians & Chinese nationals have been nabbed by the Police in recent weeks for alleged involvement in multiple local and transnational online scams more..

Oct 14 (FT) SL’s State of the Economy for 2024, known as SOE 24, has been released by the IPS in early Oct 2024. This is an early bird because it is the first comprehensive analysis of the state of the economy. Other two documents on the economy, CB’s Annual Economic Review & Finance Ministry’s Annual Report are to be released in the early part of the next year. Hence, for anyone to learn of the current state of the economy and its future direction, this is the best document available. more..

Oct 14 (FT) SL has a new President, and a fresh general election will be held on 14 Nov to elect members to its Parliament and for a new Govt to be formed thereafter. The choice before the voters will be whether the NPP should be given a Parliamentary majority for them to form the next Govt or those opposed to the NPP should be given a majority for them to form the next Govt. This article will not analyse and discuss this issue as it is a topic that is already being widely discussed. more..

Oct 14 (PMD) Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary General of the UN, met with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake this morning at the Prez Secretariat. The discussion primarily focused on governance, constitutional reforms, and the country’s electoral system. Ms. Wignaraja presented the report on Understanding Multidimensional Vulnerabilities: Impact on the People of SL to Prez Dissanayake. Based on the findings of this report, UNDP assured its support for SL’s development efforts. more..

Oct 14 (AD) All schools in the Colombo Education Zone will be closed tomorrow, Director of Education of the Western Province announced. This decision has been taken in view of the prevailing adverse weather conditions. Meanwhile, all govt schools of the Gampaha, Kelaniya, Kolonnawa and Kaduwela educational zones will remain closed tomorrow as decided by the Provincial Education authorities on Sunday. Schools in the aforementioned Education Zones had remained closed today as well, more..

Oct 14 (AD) A child admitted with burn injuries to Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, has died due to the lack of a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon for nearly one year to provide the necessary care, sources at Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) Colombo said. LRH sources alleged the Plastic Surgeon who had been transferred to LRH from Teaching Hospital Peradeniya from 2023 End-Post Specialist more..

Oct 14 (EN) SL has called for applications for the Director General post of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Qualified persons should prepare applications in accordance with the format published on the Parliament website. Applications should be sent via registered post referred to the Secretary General of the Constitutional Council, Constitutional Council-Office, Parliament of SL or via email to constitutionalcouncil@parliament.lk on or more..

Oct 14 (NW) A 14-year-old female resident of Kattankudy has arrived on a bicycle to meet PM Harini Amarasuriya over two key social issues in her area. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Fatima Nada arrived from Kattankudy to Colombo by bicycle to hand over a message to PM Harini Amarasuriya. During the meeting at the PM’s Office this morning, the young student requested immediate action against the drug menace affecting children & youth and to prevent child abuse. more..

Oct 14 (ICC) ICC has today revealed the ICC Players of the Month for Sept 2024 as SL’s Kamindu Mendis and England’s Tammy Beaumont. Mendis continued a record-breaking streak in Test cricket during September to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, while Beaumont starred in England’s short format success in Ireland to secure the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award. Both players win their respective accolades for 2nd time more..

Oct 14 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need for a specific and sustainable program to address the recurring flood situation in the country. He noted that frequent flooding requires long-term solutions for effective control. During a meeting today with officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and the Ministry of Finance at the Presidential Secretariat, Prez directed officials to prioritize immediate relief for those affected by the recent inclement weather more..

Oct 14 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has sentenced the Director of W.M. Mendis Distilleries, Arjun Aloysius and two others to 06 months in prison for defaulting the payment of Rs. 3.5 billion in VAT by the company. The relevant case was filed against the company by the Inland Revenue Dept (IRD) for defaulting the payment of Rs. 3.5 billion in taxes owed to the govt during the period from 2016 to 2019. The case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe more..

Oct 14 (CT) Health authorities in Sri Lanka have raised concerns over an alarming increase in cancer cases, with over 33,000 new diagnoses and 19,000 deaths recorded last year. Speaking at the 21st Annual Academic Sessions of the SL College of Oncologists (SLCO), held in Colombo recently, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala said among men, oral cancer was the most common, while breast cancer remained the leading diagnosis for women. He highlighted the growing more..

Oct 14 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, kick-starting the NPP election campaign yesterday, said NPP Govt appears to have introduced retirement to SL politics, where none of the politicians had retired in the past, other than those who had lost in elections or had died. He said this phenomenon could be identified as a transformation. “Most of the former MPs have withdrawn from the election campaign this time. This is the transformation that the people expected,” more..

Oct 14 (Island) The Election Commission (EC) has permitted political parties to change symbols before the handing over of nominations, in keeping with the Parliamentary Elections Act.Authoritative sources said so when The Island sought an explanation as to how the New Democratic Front (NDF) had changed its symbol Swan to Gas Cylinder to enable the UNP and main breakaway faction of the SLPP contest more..

Oct 14 (Island) Election Commission (EC) will institute legal action against prez candidates who have not submitted their campaign expense reports or whose reports contain inaccuracies. The deadline for the submission of the candidates’ expense reports ended yesterday. By Sunday noon, 31 candidates had submitted their expense reports. Among those who have not handed over their expense reports are several main candidates, according to Rohana Hettiarachchi, more..

Oct 14 (AD) The Election Commission has released the names of the 2024 Presidential Election candidates who have not submitted their election campaigning expenses reports. Accordingly, the election regulatory body stated that neither of the following presidential election candidates, the secretaries of their recognized political parties nor the voters who nominated the names of the candidates have submitted the income and expense reports to the commission. more..

Oct 14 (AN) Politicians from multiple SL parties are calling for a break in diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv after Israeli attacks wounded two UN peacekeepers from the South Asian nation. Sri Lankan troops are part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which is tasked with helping the Lebanese Army keep control over the south of the country, which borders Israel. The SL contingent consists of 125 personnel who are deployed to the UNIFIL more..

Oct 14 (DM) A tense situation unfolded aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL607 from Sydney to Colombo when the captain locked the female First Officer out of the cockpit. The incident however, occurred two months ago. According to sources, it is over a disagreement during a toilet break, which left passengers and crew anxious. Sources further said that the captain in question has been grounded following an investigation The flight, operated by an Airbus A330, continued without further more..

Oct 14 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has rejected an appeal submitted by the Director of W.M. Mendis Distilleries Arjun Aloysius and two others, to be forwarded to the Colombo High Court, seeking to invalidate the prison sentence imposed on them by the court this morning over VAT evasion. Through this appeal, the defendants have also requested permission to pay the due taxes in installments. The Colombo Additional Magistrate had sentenced the Director of W.M. Mendis Distilleries, more..

Oct 14 (DM) SriLankan Airlines confirmed today that an investigation is currently underway in accordance with civil aviation regulations regarding the incident on flight UL 607 from Sydney to Colombo on 21 Sept 2024. It was reported that a tense situation had unfolded aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL607 when the Captain had locked the female First Officer out of the cockpit. According to sources, it is over a disagreement during a toilet break, which left passengers and crew anxious. more..

Oct 14 (Island) Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led peoples’ govt and the country’s armed forces must consider seriously the advice given by President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, in his capacity as the new President of the BASL, former State Counsel and ex-MP M. M. Zuhair said. Declaring that SL must investigate alleged war crimes through a domestic mechanism, Meddegoda had said, “If war crimes aren’t investigated (here), even political leaders might face travel restrictions”. more..

Oct 14 (MFA) Minister Vijitha Herath updated the Colombo-based diplomatic corps on the govt’s progress and outlined future plans during an interactive session at the Foreign Ministry this morning. He said that the govt is making significant progress on its debt restructuring process, paving the way for the third review under the IMF's EFF. Under the NPP govt stabilization measures will be aligned with efforts to improve more..

Oct 14 (CT) The highest number of nominations (72) ever recorded in the District were received from the Digamadulla Electoral District for a mere seven seats in the General Election scheduled for 14 Nov. According to Ampara District Govt Agent Chinthaka Abeywickrema, after rejecting seven nominations from the Independent Groups, the nominations of 22 registered parties and 50 Independent Groups were accepted. This is said to be the highest number of nominations received in a district. more..